#3 MOTOR CITY MUSTANGS
Great Lakes Division, Great East Conference
RATIONALE
The Detroit-based franchise was named the “Motor City Mustangs” in honor the city being the center of the blue-collar American automotive industry, with General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler all headquartered in the area. The team name is derived from one of Ford’s most popular muscle car, the “Ford Mustang”, which debuted in 1964. The Mustangs wear a "Ford blue" uniform, with reflective blue-tinted silver letters and numerals to mimic a chrome finish. A candy red is used sparingly as the team’s secondary color.
STORYLINE
The Motor City Mustangs are an American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They compete in the Great Lakes Division in the Great East Conference of the Ultimate Football League. The Mustangs have played all of their home games in Detroit, MI since the 1st UFL season.
The Detroit-based franchise has been named the Detroit Destroyers up until season 25, when longtime owner Earl Fitzgerald sold the team to businessman Cutis Goodwin, and the team was rebranded as the Motor City Mustangs in honor of the blue-collar automotive industry and Goodwin’s role as a stakeholder in the Ford Motor Company. They have been known for their long quarterback tenures despite an often lackluster offensive attack. The team’s strong smash-mouth defense has been the backbone of the franchise, ranking in the top-5 overall during a 6-season stretch. The team hasn’t achieved much post-season success, largely in part due to the success of the Chicago Dragons, a division rival powerhouse.
TOMMY RUIZ ERA (seasons 1-13)
The Detroit franchise’s first draft choice in the 1st UFL draft was quarterback Tommy Ruiz out of Texas. Not knowing what to expect, the team went 9-7 in its first season and fell short of a playoff spot, but Ruiz quickly established himself as a strong leader, regardless of the lack of team offensive production. For the next few seasons however, the team would fail to achieve a winning record. This would turn around in the team’s 4th season, when they finished at 10-6 and achieved their first playoff spot. Ruiz would lead the team to only 5 wins in season 5, ultimately resulting in a brief rebuilding period. The team would draft several college phenoms in an effort to reinforce the defense, including defensive end Arthur Lamb in the 6th UFL draft, linebacker Ron Olson in the first round in the 7th and cornerback Marion Walton in the second round in the 7th UFL Draft. The team would finish number 1 in overall defense in season 9 with a record of 9-7. They would continue to have a rock-solid defense for seasons to come.
The team would only achieve 5 wins in season 10, though the defense ranked 3rd overall in the league. The following season the team would rebound with an 8-8 record, but again they would fail to reach the playoffs. During the offseason, there were thoughts about the future of Tommy Ruiz at the quarterback position, with his age being a factor as well as his lack of postseason production. These thoughts would carry into the 12th UFL Draft, and after finishing the previous season at 4-12, the Detroit Destroyers would select QB Bruce Lewis with the 3rd overall pick. In season 13, the team would again finish at 4-12. In a post-game press conference following the final game of the season, Ruiz would announce that this would be his final game.
BRUCE LEWIS ERA (seasons 14-18)
Lewis, being inserted as the starting quarterback in his second UFL season, would struggle in his first four games, throwing 10 INT and only 2 TD as the team would go 0-4 in that stretch. The team would announce a blockbuster move in week 5, trading for WR Calvin Freeborg and sending CB Marion Walton to the New York Lightning. Following the trade, the team would go 3-3 over their next six games, with Lewis throwing for 6 TD and 6 INT in that span. The Destroyers would win two in a row before losing their final four games, finishing the season with a 5-11 record. The following season, Lewis would throw for 28 TD with 20 INT, with Freeborg catching 13 of those scores, as the team would finish with a 7-9 record. The Destroyers would again finish 7-9 in season 16, but Lewis continued to struggle, throwing 23 TD and 23 INT. Season 17 and 18 didn’t fare any better for Lewis, as he threw for a career worst 17 TD, 26 INT and 18 TD, 23 INT respectively.
In the 19th UFL Draft, the Destroyers would draft two quarterbacks in consecutive rounds: Brett Hanson (California) and Christopher McCuien (Texas). Bruce Lewis would not make the roster for the season 19 and would be released.
HANSON & MCCUIEN ERA (seasons 19-present)
The battle for the starting quarterback role between Hanson and McCuien was settled two days before their opening matchup against the Cincinnati Vultures in season 19. Both quarterbacks had similar playing styles as pocket passers with accurate arms, both securing a win and a loss in their 2 starts each in the preseason. Hanson would shine in his UFL debut against a stout Cincinnati defense, throwing for 315 yards with 3 TD and one INT, coming on a tipped pass intended for Calvin Freeborg. He would continue his success, throwing 15 TD passes and only 2 INT over his next 6 games. In a week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Aztecs however, he would throw 4 INT with the team losing its next 3 games. The Destroyers would finish at 9-7, with Hanson throwing 28 TD and 10 INT in his first UFL season.
Hanson experienced a slump in season 20 and 21. The quarterback would struggle with accuracy, posting consecutive career-lows in completion percentage with 53 and 49. His struggles were thought to have been linked to the inefficiency of the receiving core, a group that dropped the most passes in the league in both years. In the 22nd UFL Draft, the Destroyers would draft WR Merton Burleson (Iowa) and trade Freeborg to the San Jose Outlaws for a second round pick, which would go on to be WR Darrien Augustin (Notre Dame). Hanson’s would put up a completion percentage of 62 the following season, a career high.
The Detroit Destroyers would win their division for the first time in franchise history in season 23 with a record of 9-7. Hanson would throw for over 400 yards and a win in his playoff debut against the then-Charlotte Panthers, 28-17. They would lose to the Denver Avengers in the divisional round however, 10-37. The following season, Hanson would suffer a broken hand in week 7, and with McCuien in relief, the team would lose six of their next nine games, finishing the season with a record of 5-11.
In the offseason of season 24, longtime owner Earl Fitzgerald sold the franchise to a Ford Motor Company stakeholder, Curtis Goodwin. The team was rebranded as the Motor City Mustangs for season 25.
NOTE: The logos and designs used in this presentation are property of CJ Zilligen and MUST NOT be repurposed under any circumstance.

#2 MIAMI PIRATES
Atlantic Division, Great East Conference
RATIONALE
The Miami franchise was named the “Pirates” after the tale of Black Caesar, an 18th-century African pirate who raided shipping from the Florida Keys. He was known for his huge size, immense strength, and keen intelligence, and has a small island north of Key Largo and south of Miami named “Caesar Rock” in his honor.
The Pirates football team is dressed in a deep sea green paired with black and gold, the team’s original team colors. Instances of gold on the team uniform are shiny and reflective to mimic the treasures of the deep Florida Keys.
STORYLINE
The Miami Pirates are an American football team based in Miami, FLA. They compete in the Atlantic Division in the Great East Conference of the Ultimate Football League. The Pirates have played all of their home games in Miami, FL since the 1st UFL season.
The Miami franchise, one of the original 32 UFL teams, was originally called the “Gorillas”, but was later changed to “Pirates” before the first game due to popular fan vote. The Pirates have played in Miami, Florida for all 25 UFL seasons. The franchise has been known for maintaining a steady level of mediocrity over its existence, reaching only 4 playoff berths in the first 20 seasons. Only recently has the team flirted with success, winning their for back-to-back seasons in 24 and 25.
THE EARLY YEARS (seasons 1-8)
The Pirates nearly reached playoffs going 9-7 record in its first season, ultimately the team’s only winning record for the next 7. The early irrelevance of the team created low attendance records, which developed a cause for concern. In an effort to boost attendance and play on the field, the Pirates would sign a number of big names, including QB Jorge Miles, who was released by the Florida Sharks the season prior, and WR Marvin Holloway, who was known for his flashy play and celebrity status. The team would falter, and handcuffed in a situation of big dollar contracts with no success. The team would hire Rhett Culver as head coach, and would also sign former Washington Knights legendary QB Oscar Calgary in season 8, but he would retire mid-season.
YOUNG/CANNON/RODGERS ERA (seasons 8-16)
Through the first 7 seasons, the Pirates were able to lock a top-5 pick three times, one of them being QB Cobrani Young with the 3rd overall pick (Washington) in the 8th UFL Draft. Young would go on to become one of the UFL’s first mobile quarterbacks and provide a dynamic that traditional defenses hadn’t yet seen. He would become the starter halfway through season 8 after Calgary’s abrupt retirement and the team’s 1-6 start, leading the team to 5 wins in its final 9 games. The Pirates would make a historic draft-room trade in the 9th UFL Draft, sending their 6th overall pick to the Portland Huskies in exchange for Future Hall of Fame WR Robert Cannon, a move that would propel the Pirates offense to new heights. They would draft RB Travis Rodgers in the 2nd round in the same draft out of Central Michigan. For the first time in a long time, the Pirates fanbase would have hope, and would later fall in love with the trio.
The Young-Cannon-Rodgers triple threat would lead the Pirates to its second-ever playoff birth in season 9 with a record of 9-7, though the young team would lose its first game. The next two seasons brought back-to-back 7-9 records, one of them good enough to secure another wild card berth in season 11. They would suffer a heartbreaking 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Aztecs in the first round, a game in which RB Travis Rodgers fumbled on the LA 33 while in field goal range, consequentially allowing QB Brenden Trayton and the Aztecs offense to drive down for a game-winning field goal in overtime.
Season 12 brought hopes of another playoff spot, but they were all but crushed when Young went down in week 5 with a broken collarbone while scrambling for a first down against the Austin Lonestars. The Pirates would go 2-10 to finish the season under backup QB Keith Fletcher, a sad ending after a promising 3-1 start with Young.
The following season, the Pirates would come up short of another playoff spot at 8-8, though WR Robert Cannon would put up career numbers (98 rec/1615 yds/12 TD) in his 9th UFL season. Cobrani Young would also put up career numbers (27 TD, 10 INT) in his 5th, though missing 2 games due to a concussion. Travis Rodgers would have fumbling issues, losing 15, from what it is believed to have been the result of a fractured wrist suffered in week 3.
In season 14, the Pirates won a then franchise-record 10 games, and, for the first time, won their division. In a rematch of the season 11 heartbreaker, the Pirates would defeat the Los Angeles Aztecs 24-13 in the wildcard round, though they would lose in the Divisional Round in a blowout loss. This would be the final game in which Young, Cannon, and Rodgers would all play on the same field together.
During the offseason, Rodgers re-injured his fractured wrist playing a pick-up basketball game, an injury in which doctors suggested surgery. For months leading up to the preseason, he would deny the existence of the injury and refuse surgery, saying that “he doesn’t believe in doctors”. Head coach Rhett Culver would bench Rodgers “to prevent further damage”, requesting that he receives a second opinion on his injury, brewing a feud between the two. Some teammates expressed their support for Rodgers, believing that the injury “wasn’t anything serious” and that “if [Rodgers] wants to play through it, let him”. A divide in the team was becoming more and more evident, and with the team starting its 15th season 0-4, Culver was fired and interim coach Cole Warden took his place. Warden would bring Rodgers back into the starting role in week 6, finishing the season with 12 fumbles and 8 touchdowns. Young would suffer a nagging ankle injury in week 5, preventing him from making another start under center in season 15. The team would finish 6-10.
THE “CHISM REBUILD” ERA (seasons 16-18)
Newly-hired General Manager Virgilio Chism was brought into the front office in an effort to right the ship and build a positive team chemistry. Chism often described his vision as a “plan for the future”, and labelled the status of the team as a “textbook house-cleaning situation”, igniting discord between the Chism and the fanbase. In the offseason of season 15, RB Travis Rodgers was released, and QB Cobrani Young was traded to the Arizona Cobras for a 3rd round draft pick and QB Milo Eubanks, who had a similar playing style. Young, in his second start for the Cobras, would aggravate his previously injured ankle in week 2 and was released. WR Robert Cannon was traded to the then-Brooklyn Bruins for a second-round draft pick in season 17, and a first-round pick in season 18. Cannon would reach the UFL Championship for his first time in his career in season 16, again in 17 and 18, and would retire in the offseason after 14 seasons. Years after the dismantling of the team they saw so much potential in, fans were left with the thoughts of what could have been.
The Pirates would endure forgettable seasons in 16, 17 and 18 (going 4-12, 1-15, and 3-13 respectively), with the poor performance allowing them to secure the 2nd pick overall in the 19th UFL Draft. They would draft gunslinging QB Stephen Cutless (Southeastern Missouri), a decision that initially left the fans feeling sour about. Chism called Cutless “the quarterback of the future”, and vowed to construct a team built of “prolific playmakers” to prepare the quarterback for the day he would be promoted to the starting role. Over the three drafts, Chism would trade down to accumulate future first-round picks and to acquire young talent. Due to the divide between Chism and the team and fanbase (something he was hired to eliminate), Chism was relieved of his duties after only 3 seasons.
The Pirates would go on to draft TE Derek Walker (UFL Draft 20), CB Ty Nielsen (UFL Draft 21), WR Jacquez Crawford (UFL Draft 22), and FS Jaqwaylin Roberts (UFL Draft 22) using the “Chism Draft Picks”, all of which would go on to be UFL All-Stars.
CUTLESS ERA (seasons 19-present)
Cutless’ rookie season started and ended behind 12-time veteran Pirates QB Keith Fletcher, though he saw playing time in week 12 when Fletcher was out the second half with a concussion. The playing time Cutless saw in preseason games was met with boo’s and “We Hate Chism” chants, but the quarterback looked impressive in his relief role, throwing for 3 touchdowns for a comeback victory, which appeared to earn cheers the fanbase. Cutless wouldn’t see playing time again until season 20 when he was named the starter, with Fletcher in the backup role.
For the next 3 seasons, Cutless would continue to show promise, leading the team to a playoff berth at 10-6 in season 21, but he would succumb to the pressure of the big stage, throwing 3 interceptions in his playoff debut. The young team would go 9-7 in season 22, but lose 10 games in season 23, five of those losses coming from games in overtime, a UFL record.
Season 24 would be Cutless’ breakout year, leading the team to a franchise-record 11-win season for the division champions, good enough for a first-round bye. Despite the feat, the Pirates would lose in a shootout against the Phoenix Skyhawks, 42-56, a game in which Cutless threw 5 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions.
NOTE: The logos and designs used in this presentation are property of CJ Zilligen and MUST NOT be repurposed under any circumstance.

#1 FRESNO BOBCATS
Pacific Division, Great West Conference
RATIONALE
Fresno, with a population of roughly 500,000, sits in the center part of the San Joaquin Valley. The name “Bobcats” is derived from the lynx rufus californicus species populating the nearby Sierra Nevada. Fresno is known for its mild winters and dry summers, and notorious for thick “tule fog” that settles in that area. Being the “raisin capital of the world”, the Fresno team is dressed in a deep purple, paired with a sky blue as a nod to the city’s flag.
The primary Bobcat logo is brandished on the helmet, sleeves of the uniform, midfield, and other places for brand recognition. The custom-crafted typeface, "UFL Bobcat", is paired with "Industry" to create a bold look that is simple and strong. The "Fresno" typography is arched to mimic the welcome sign over Van Ness avenue.
STORYLINE
The Fresno Bobcats are an American football team based in Fresno, CA. They compete in the Pacific Division in the Great West Conference of the Ultimate Football League. The Bobcats have played their home games in Fresno, CA since the 16th UFL season.
The Bobcats franchise is one of the original 32 UFL teams. They played their first 15 seasons in San Francisco as the San Francisco Bobcats, until being bought out by businessman Blaine Rinehardt and relocated to Fresno after season 15. The move was made in hopes of rejuvenating a failing franchise in a crowded market and establishing success in a new one in Fresno.
SAN FRANCISCO ERA (seasons 1-15)
The Bobcats first 9 seasons were relatively unsuccessful, with 0 playoff appearances and only one season with a winning record (9-7 in season 1). The team posted back-to-back 13-3 records in season 11 and 12 with the emergence of QB David Beale and WR Sheldon Shaw, though the following 3 seasons would fall short of team expectations. Despite their regular-season accomplishments, the team was not able to escape the Divisional Round in the playoffs. After season 15, days after the announced transaction and relocation, Beale was released. Shaw would later be traded to the Dallas Talons. The team hasn’t matched this success since.
FRESNO ERA (seasons 16-present)
During the Bobcats’ first 2 seasons in Fresno, the team juggled starting quarterbacks Darryl Goodman (received in the Shaw trade), Lyle Bennett, Seth Lowe, who each started at least 3 games, and failed to achieve more than 6 wins in each season. The most pivotal moment for the franchise was the 18th UFL Draft in which the Bobcats selected QB Larry Randolph (Georgia Tech) with the 4th overall pick. Randolph would go on to set many franchise passing records for years to come.
RANDOLPH ERA (seasons 18-present)
The Bobcats entered season 18 with Randolph starting at quarterback over Goodman and Lowe. Though the team struggled posting another 6-10 record, Randolph was impressive and showed potential as a high-caliber quarterback with his exceptional decision-making and accuracy. The Bobcats would draft wide receivers in the first round in 3 consecutive seasons: Freddie Spencer (20th UFL Draft), Denard Byham (21st UFL Draft) and Jevan Muhammad (22nd UFL Draft) in an effort to help Randolph and the passing game. Over the next five seasons, the offense would blossom into a dangerous and explosive passing attack.
It wasn’t until season 22 that the Bobcats, with a record of 10-6, would reach the playoffs, their first appearance since season 12. In a classic game, the Bobcats lost on a last-second field goal 52-49 against the San Diego Wildcats in the Wildcard Round. The following season, the Bobcats would again post a 10-6 record, and again lose in the Wildcard Round, this time to the Phoenix Skyhawks, 26-31. In the first game of the 24th season, wide receiver Freddie Spencer suffered a torn ACL in his left knee while attempting a catch and was lost for the season. Despite the loss, the Bobcats were able to reach the playoffs for the third straight year with a record of 12-4. They would fall short again, losing 14-35 to the San Diego Wildcats in the Wildcard Round.
NOTE: The logos and designs used in this presentation are property of CJ Zilligen and MUST NOT be repurposed under any circumstance.

Hey everyone,
It’s been quite awhile since I’ve posted on these boards, largely in part because life has a way of getting in the way, but I’ve been quietly lurking. Some of you have probably seen me active on Dribbble and Instagram, and probably know that I’ve been working on my personal football league redesign, a thread that I received a lot of positive feedback on in 2011.
Yes, I’m resurrecting it (although it wasn’t really dead in the first place). As we’re learning and developing our skills as designers, we tend to become better than the work we produce yesterday. I've been working on developing identities for each team on and off for the past 6 years. That being said, I’m excited to bring to you “The UFL Project”, a 2.0 if you will, a reimagining of 32 fictional football teams I created when I was 11. Named the “Ultimate Football League”, my goal for this project is to bring the brand to life through visuals, custom logos and typefaces, and to make each individual team a brand of their own.
I have been running the Ultimate Football League for the past 25 seasons (which equates to about 10-ish years), with complete rosters and histories. I’ve ran the league through the Franchise Modes of Madden 06, 09, and now 12.
Feedback is always appreciated, but I’m not looking for critiques of league alignment, storylines, etc. Most of these decisions are based off of the history of the league and the original teams 32 that I started with.
I have a lot that I’m excited to share, but for now, here’s the league logo.
EDIT: If anyone knows of a solution for the quality loss in the embedded image, let me know!
RATIONALE
Think of the UFL as this alternate-universe football league that takes the place of the NFL in the football world. Other popular leagues still exist, but the entire football lineage from the NCAA to the pros has been completely redirected towards the Ultimate Football League. Major entities like Nike and ESPN are very much alive, while some smaller companies that may hold sponsorships and naming rights are completely fictional to fit with the storyline and lineage of the league and its owners.
The timeline of the league is also based on seasons, not years, due to the fact that multiple seasons may be simulated within a year. However, based on the 25 seasons to the date, we can infer that this league started somewhere between 1991-92.
Currently, the league is simulated in the Madden 12 Franchise Mode (previously Madden 08, 09), which means it isn’t uncommon for ridiculous scores and stats to pop up (CPU users don’t tend to show sportsmanship in blowout games). It also ins’t uncommon for dynasties to win 4 championships in a row, or appear in 8 consecutively. When instances like these happen, I try and incorporate it into the storyline as much as possible. It’s more fun that way.
STORYLINE
The Ultimate Football League is an American football league made up of 32 teams spread out across the United States. The league is split up into two conferences – The Great West conference and The Great East conference – and each conference has four division of four teams each.
The regular season is 17 weeks long, with 16 games and a bye week, and is concluded with a tournament-style playoff structure in which the four division winners and two wildcard teams in each conference play in a single-elimination game format, with the final two teams playing in the UFL Championship. The team with the most UFL Championship wins is the Chicago Dragons (11), and the most recent champion is the Los Angeles Aztecs, defeating the Cincinnati Vultures 30-7 in UFL Championship 24. There are still 13 teams that have yet to reach the championship.